Why Pursue a Bachelor’s in Sports and Recreation Management?

Sports and Recreation Management involves the administration, marketing and promotion, and making financial and human resource decisions in sport and fitness organizations. Occupations in this field include: collegiate and professional sport administrators including athletic directors, managers, and general managers, sports agents, recreation center directors, youth sport directors, as well as coaches, scouts, and strength and conditioning directors. The field of sports and recreation management encompasses implementation of skills that serve in event and facility coordination and management as well as managing resources for not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. Sports and recreation management professionals must have an understanding of basic sport law and ethics, finance, accounting, market and management in a sport-specific climate.

An undergraduate program in Sports and Recreation Management provides students with a fundamental understanding of basic business principles including: accounting, finance, marketing, and management as well as how to apply these fundamentals into the sport and recreation environment. At an undergraduate level, students will be equipped to play a pivotal role in setting the tone of an organization. Pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Sports and Recreation Management is a prudent career move for professionals seeking to develop their decision-making, leadership, verbal communication, and management skills to help advance overall organizational objectives. Adult professionals will expand career strategies in preparation for managerial opportunities in the sports and recreation management market and will realize a solid return on their tuition investment.

Classes start every 5 weeks

Additional Program Information

Additional Program Information

The foundational courses in the program will educate students in all areas of the business curriculum and prepare them to enter the workplace as a strategic thinking sports and recreation management professional. Students will gain knowledge in aspects of sports and recreation management to include sports and recreation events and facilities management, sports marketing, legal and ethical issues, human resource management, and sport psychology. The degree requirements will allow students to understand organizational needs, market and promote their organization, develop a greater understanding and application of sports and recreation management principles, and establish a professional work atmosphere.

Benefits of the BA in Sports and Recreation Management

Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Sports and Recreation Management allows the sports and recreation professional to one day work in an administrative, management or leadership position.

A bachelor’s degree is a must if one wants to progress into a management position within sports and recreation.

Students will experience all areas in the field to become strategic thinkers while implementing the values of the organization.

Today’s sports and recreation management professionals must continue to learn and develop professionally, by keeping up to date with the changing landscape of sports and recreations and enhancing their skill set, leading to the need to complete a bachelor’s degree.

A bachelor’s degree can be a stepping stone to graduate school unlocking more promising job opportunities in sports and recreation.

Overview of the primary principles and practices, theories and concepts of sports and recreation administration and program development.

3

SRMP 2010

Legal & Ethical Issues

Introduces critical concepts and challenges involving legal and ethical issues in sports and recreation industry. An exploration and examination of the various roles of regulation, compliance, government intervention, liability, contracts and antitrust issues and their ethical responsibilities and ramifications.

3

SRMP 2020

Social & Historical Foundations-Sports & Recreation

A topical study of the social and historical significance of sport and leisure in human history ranging from Greco-Roman history through the present; examination of the role and influence of sport in major social and cultural developments.

Introductory consideration of facilities and events management issues such as event scheduling, finance and profitability, personnel and equipment oversight as well as liability and risk management concerns in sports and recreation settings.

3

SRMP 3100

Sports Marketing

The Sports and Recreation Marketing course includes brand marketing, pricing, sales, sponsorship marketing, promotions, and electronic media marketing in collegiate and professional sports and recreation environment.

Dimensions of management, management process and skills, strategic planning, leadership styles and impact on subordinates, teamwork and work force diversity, communication of values, negotiations with employees and impact on productivity. Total Quality Management and Management by Objectives.

Students will complete either a sport or recreation management internship or prepare a dynamic professional portfolio which highlights the student’s knowledge, skills, and qualities relative to current industry needs.

4

Electives as needed to meet minimum 128 hours and 32 residency hours or students may
elect to add an approved minor.

Concordia-Chicago’s Sports and Recreation Management core faculty has extensive experience in the field of sports and recreation along with the requisite certifications/credentials. Faculty come from all subspecialties of sports and recreation including but not limited to collegiate and professional sports administration, sports agencies, recreation directors, personal training, strength and conditioning management, not-for-profit recreation agencies and more.

Our tuition is reasonable and will not change over time.

Concordia University Chicago is committed to providing students with a high-quality education at a reasonable cost. And for graduates, the benefits of obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree can be very valuable. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2017, the median of earnings for adults ages 25-34 working full-time, year-round, with a bachelor’s degree was $46,749.

Find your place in a high-growth career field

Employment of sport and recreation management professionals is projected to grow 10% from 2018-2024 which is faster than the average for all professions. The continued need for sports and recreation is expected to lead to new openings. As the popularity of youth, high-school, collegiate, and professional sports continues to grow at an exponential rate worldwide, demand for professionals in a variety of capacities will continue to be in demand. Moreover, an increasing demand for recreational facilities for a large baby-boom population has significantly increased the need for more recreation facilities and personnel for a diverse population.

Looking for a challenging career with variety?

Explore the wide variety of challenging employment opportunities that relate to Sports and Recreation Management:

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What Our Students Are Saying

I love the curriculum and the ability to take one course at a time, along with the flexible payments that works with my salary. This degree will prepare me to work with other professors or medical doctors in the Exercise Science field to explore further research.

Nicholas MortensenPhD Health and Human Performance

I wanted to get a PhD to pursue a tenured-track position and perform research. The online courses have been highly engaging and have provided an outstanding learning experience preparing me to contribute as a scholar in my field of study.

Jason MenoutisPhD Health and Human Performance

My favorite class was research methods and design. The instructor’s feedback was extremely helpful and what I learned in this class will be applicable throughout the rest of my career. I also enjoyed my sports nutrition course because it was challenging and put me out of my comfort zone.

Cynthia MirandaMS Applied Exercise Science - Human Movement Science

The online format allows for me to continue expanding my business and professional goals while still pursuing a Master’s degree. I was initially worried as I had not previously had much experience with online coursework, but the format allows for structured, discussion based learning amongst peers.

The online format allows for me to continue expanding my business and professional goals while still pursuing a Master’s degree. I was initially worried as I had not previously had much experience with online coursework, but the format allows for structured, discussion based learning amongst peers.

James Crager is an avid mountain biker and workout enthusiast. He’s also the proud recipient of a brand-new bachelor of science degree in kinesiology, earned through Concordia-Chicago’s highly ranked accelerated degree program (ADP). … See MoreSee Less